Holper fob stethoscopes



May 26, 1925.

E. M. HARTLE TT HOLDER FOR STETHOSCOPES Filed Dec. 29 1923 INVENTOR Z'Mfiarf/eff A TIFORNE YS Patented May 26, 1925. V

UNITED srars s ELV-IN MANN HARTLETT, or CHICAGO, ILLinoIs.

HOLDER FOR- STETHOSCOPES.

Application filed December 29, 1923. Serial No. 683,489.

To all LUZLOWZ it may camera:

Be it known that I, ELvIN MANN HART- LETT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Holders for Stethoscopes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My inventionrelates toimprovements in holder for stethoscope,.and itconsists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a holder for a stethoscope that is adapted to rigidly secure a stethoscope to the head of the operator, whereby the operator does not have to hold the stethoscope with his hands.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the bell of the stethoscope does not have to be grasped by the operator, thereby obviating the necessity of sterilizing the bell every time the stethoscope is used.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the device for holding the stethoscope, clamps it securely to the head of the operator whereby the bone structure of the head acts as a sound conductor and increases the sound from the stethoscope.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is simple in construction and consists of few parts.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part ofthis application, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device,

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the clamp, and

Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the aws ot the clamp.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a clamp carrying support 1 that is adapted to be secured to the head of the operator by means of a band 2. A plate 3- is carriedby the support 1 and in turn carries the clamp i 4. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the clamp 4 is received in a recess 5 of the plate The jaws 6 and 7 of the clamp are fashioned so as to grip the stem 8 of the stethoscope at a point where the stem branches into two portions 9 and 10, (see Figure 2). The portions 9 and 10 are in communication with the tubes 11 and 12. In Figure 4 I have shown the shape oi. the jaw 7.' The shape of the jaw 71's identical with the shape of the aw 6. It will be noted fron'i. thisfigare that the jaw 7 is hollowed out at 13 soas to receive the pipe 8. In Figure 3 I have clearly shown the hollow or groove 13. .lhe upperjaw 6 is secured to the aw 7 by means of a wingscrew 14:. he screw 14 is disposed in an opening 15 in the jaw Gand in a threaded opening 16 in the aw 7. When the wing screw 14; is tightened, the jaws 6 and 7 are swung together so as to grip the pipe or stem portion 8.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The clamp supporting member 1 is provided with a padding 1? that bears against the head of the operator when the device is worn. lVhen using the stethoscope the pipe 8 is inserted between the jaws 6 and 7 as clearly shown in Figure 1, and is clamped in place by means of the Wing screw 14. Theends of the tubes 11 and 12 are inserted in the ears of the operator, and the device is now ready to be used by the operator. -As heretofore stated, the bell 18 is rigidly held in place by the clamp 4 and the operator can move the bell to any location desired. The doctor or other person using the device may be using his hands for other purposes while testing the patient. Furthermore, the clamp 4 obviates the necessity of the doctors hold- 'ing the bell 18 to the patient with his hand.

The bell therefore does not have to be sterilized as is the case when the clamp 4. is not used.

The device is extremely simple in construction, and provides a novel means for securing the stethoscope to the head of the operator. One of the important features of the invention is that the bell 18 is rigidly held, whereby the doctor can move the bell to any desired position by merely moving his head. Another advantage of the device iies in the fact that thejaws 6 and 7 can be readily released to permit thestethoscope to be removed.

The fact that the stethoscope is rigidly clamped to the head of the operator causes head.

part of the sound waves to travel through the wall of the device itself and by conduction be transmitted to the bone structure of the head, whereby the sound from the stethoscope is increased. If it is desired to further increase the sound, the padding 17 may be removed and the plate 1 clamped directly to the forehead. A direct metal connection is no afforded between the patient being tested and the head of the operator. It will therefore appear that the device performs a double function, i. e., it rigidly supports the bell of the stethoscope and also acts as a sound conductor to the bone structure of the 20 said plate, said clamp having two jaws,

means for moving said jaws into lockingengagement wlth the bell of the stethoscope, the gripping surfaces of said jaws being fashioned so as to conform to the outer surface of the bell.

2. A holder for a stethoscope comprising a head band, a plate carried by said band, a jaw having its shank rigidly secured to said plate, a second jaw, means for moving said jaws toward each other to grip the bell of a stethoscope therebetween, and the gripping surfaces of said jaws being fashioned so as to conform to the contour of the outer surface of the bell.

3. A holder for a stethoscope comprising a head band and a clamp rigidly secured to said head band, said clamp being provided with means for rigidly holding the bell of the stethoscope.

4. A holder for a stethoscope comprising a head band, a plate fastened to said band, and aclamp rigidly secured to said plate, said clamp being provided with means for gripping the bell of the stethoscope so as to cause the bell and band to move as a unit.

ELVIN MANN .HARTLETT. 

